One shining burger moment: Greene Turtle's champion burger is ...

Upscale burger joints are now serving adventurous, exciting and sometimes outrageous burgers, made with everything from lamb to kangaroo. The meat isn't the only upgrade. The toppings and breads -- once only lettuce, tomato and mayo on a sesame seed bun -- now include brie, caviar aioli and Meyer lemon honey mustard on toasted brioche. Given the ingredients, it's easy to think the new breed of burger spots are pretentious. Not so. Whether it's the name brand Bobby's Burger Palace (the brainchild of chef Bobby Flay) or the boutique BGR Joint, these places are mostly fast casual. The emphasis is on the burger, not the setting. We tried 10 specialty burgers, from places which use fresh ground ingredients, cooked to order. While some rose above the rest, they were all tasty alternatives to the plain old hamburgers of yesteryear. --John Houser III Sun freelance writer John Lindner contributed to this article. Also see: • Baltimore burgers • Places to get burgers in Baltimore • Baltimore food porn • Your pictures: What have you eaten lately?

Richard GorelickThe Baltimore Sun

Note: There is random "Hunger Games" plot spolier in this post about a bracket-style burger competition at the Greene Turtle Sports Bar and Grille.

The March Madness-inspired stuffed burger competition at the Greene Turtle is over and we have a winner. Bacon & Cheddar will be added to the Greene Turtle's permanent menu.

Stuffed with smoked bacon and cheddar cheese, and topped with sauteed mushrooms, crispy onion straws, A-1 steak sauce and a creamy horseradish sauce, Bacon & Cheddar bested the The Spicy Jack, The Pep & Cheese and The Ham & Cheese in a bracket-style competition determined by ... us, the fans.

Voting in the final round between Bacon & Cheddar and Spicy Jack was very, very close, with Bacon & Cheddar getting 51% of the total votes.

In a "Hunger Games" plot twist, the Greene Turtle has decided to add both burgers to the permanent menu.

Whaaatt? Are Bacon & Cheddar and Spicy Jack even from the same District??!

Each burger is being plated with the Turtle's signature kettle chips for $9.99.